2019: My son not interested in governorship seat, says Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki has ruled out the possibility of his son contesting the 2019 governorship election in Kwara State.Saraki said at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja that it was untrue that his son was being groomed as the next governor of the state, adding that he (his son) does not have interest in politics.

“That is not in the offing at all; I am sure he doesn’t even want to hear politics at all.“You know, it is not easy for children who are born to politicians, especially in this time, to embrace politics. When I was much younger, we were insulated from some of the political issues and because we didn’t read the newspapers, we didn’t know what was happening.

“I reluctantly went into politics, you can go and check. Once or twice, I was given the form to run for House of Representatives and I remember I just travelled and disappeared for months.

“After seeing what my father had been through, I thought to myself that this is not for me,” he said.Saraki, however, said the most important thing for him in the state was the legacy been left and the continuity and good relationship between former and the serving governor, noting that his successor (Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed) had also done a good job in transforming the state by creating an environment for entrepreneurship.

“In the agricultural sector, we have done a lot of things that drive commercial activities, which is not in the blueprint of the country.“Even in the universal health coverage, which we are now talking about at the national level, I started that when I was governor and now my governor has continued and built on that.

“This shows the importance of continuity and stability and today, we thank God that we are one of those states where there is a very good relationship between former governor and current governor,” he said.

He denied insinuation that pensioners in the state were still being owed arrears dating back to his administration, insisting: “Majority of the amounts still being owed are at the local government level, most of the state level pensions are not outstanding.

“There might be issues with pensions here and there, but I don’t know the details. I know that the arrears and liability are at local government level, not at state government level.”